My Mommyology

Learning from Motherhood.

September 11, 2011
by mymommyology
11 Comments

My Mommyology Recommends: The KidSwitch

My Mommyology KidswitchIt has a cute glow-in-the-dark moon design too!

Here’s another wonderful discovery I made thanks to my good friend Helene (Thank you as always!  You know Helene, if you charged me a penny for every good advice you gave and I took, you’d have enough to buy you a nice new pair of shoes by now! 😉 ).  She showed it to me when the girls and I went to her house the other week to play.

Ever since we knew Jamie was going to come into our lives, I’ve tried to build Sam’s independence in various ways — feeding herself, cleaning up her toys, putting on her shoes, sleeping by herself, going to the potty… the list goes on.

Now as for the potty, while she can successfully tell us that she needs to go, she still needs help with everything else.  That doesn’t really make waking up in the mornings easy because she wakes up before we do and sits there until she can’t hold it anymore and shouts, “Open the light please!  Open the light please!”  At the top of her voice.  My husband or I (Well, it depends if Jamie is latched on or not) clamor to get out of bed and rush into the bathroom to help her since we don’t want any accidents on our account.

The nice thing is that at her current pre-school Sam has learned to pull her pants up and down, and has also learned to get just enough toilet paper to wipe herself dry (another proud momma moment!).  So really, all that was left was for her to be able to get to the bathroom by herself with the lights on.

Kidswitch was actually just that: a little light bulb going off in my head.

After seeing it at Helene’s, I immediately ordered a set for our apartment without thinking twice.  Amazon has a set of 3 for $19.99 (Less than what the Kidswitch site sells it for).  We’ve recently installed it in both bathrooms and in the playroom (The main bedroom light, she can reach by climbing onto Jamie’s crib).  For now Sam thinks it’s a new toy, flicking the lights on and off in all three rooms over and over again.  Hopefully though the novelty of it wears off, and what sticks is that now she can enter the bathroom or her Playroom on her own without much assistance from anyone.

Already after a week with the Kidswitches installed, there is hope.  One morning I woke up to the sound of Sam’s voice saying, “Mommy!  All done!  All done Mommy, all done!”   I had found her on the toilet seat, pajamas and undies properly pulled off, with the lights on, dry and ready to flush (We have to work on getting her to flush the toilet since she hates the sound)!  The other time right before bed she said she wanted to get a book from her playroom, so she bounced out of the room, ran into the playroom, switched on the light and got what she needed.  She promptly turned the light back off and ran back into the bedroom.

Ahh yes.  Life with a toddler is beginning to get a tad bit easier.  I am already a fan of Kidswitch!

September 9, 2011
by mymommyology
2 Comments

Yes! I Am a Morning Per-zzzzz…..

My Mommyology Circadian Rhythm

Typical circadian rhythm, according to www.circadianrhythmsleepdisorder.info

I read somewhere that a child’s circadian rhythm naturally follows the rising and setting of the sun.  Simply put in Sam’s words, “Mommy, the sun has not gone down — it’s not time to sleep yet,” even if our clocks say that it is already 830 PM.  It therefore follows that once the sun has risen at 730AM in the morning, then Sam somehow automatically wakes up.  She is always the first one awake in the room and automatically becomes everyone’s alarm clock.  “I’m all done sleeping!”  She’ll announce in her perky morning voice.  When that doesn’t work, then she’ll start to pull off the blankets that my husband and I use to bury ourselves under to try to sneak in a few more seconds of precious sleep.

I actually thought that once I had kids, my not-so-desirable nocturnal habits would shift to align with theirs.  After all, you’re supposed to sleep when the child sleeps right?  Isn’t that what they all say?  (I have learned that the operative word is “SUPPOSE”)

When I think about it I don’t know how I became such a night owl.  Even before coming to Chapel Hill, the exact opposite timezone of Manila, it was always easier for me to stay up late and wake up late than start my day early.  So now with kids that wake up as the sun rises my days are actually a lot longer, and therefore, the time I sleep is a lot less.  After all, the only time I can get anything done uninterrupted is when they go to bed at night, and I like to have that time to myself.  Over the years I’ve learned to survive it; but there are days, like last week’s sniffles for instance, when I do have to collapse in bed and take my own set of naps.

Sometimes I declare that I will adjust and be a morning person.  After four years of trying however,  I am still stuck with the same late night routine.  When I try to get up early I actually end up falling right back asleep, or I get incredibly drowsy in the afternoon that I have to slap myself awake.  I’m now beginning to wonder if this will eventually rub off on the girls, since their bedtime is also already so much later than the rest of their peers (granted that it is a long bedtime routine to begin with).  My husband always said that Sam was never a good sleeper to begin with.  Even to this day, she has so many tricks up her sleeve to delay any kind of nap or early bedtime.  I just find it ironic that children who need the most amount of sleep resist and put up so much of a fight, when really, if I were in their shoes, I would choose to sleep all day!

I feel though that as the years go by I will have to keep trying to adjust; the girls will eventually go to kindergarten and primary school, which I know for the most part, start at 730 or 8AM.  I’m sure I will have to be awake to send them off (or take them myself).  In the meantime, the blankets getting pulled off every morning should work as a jump start.

And maybe some nice hot coffee…

September 7, 2011
by mymommyology
6 Comments

Fireflies and Steripods

When I was young(er) I don’t recall any of my dentists telling me it was crucial to brush my teeth for 2 minutes each time.  I do remember the flossing part, learning about plaque and tartar and brushing all sides up and down (well mostly going away from the gums), but not the length of time.  Why two minutes?  Apparently it has something to do with getting the maximum out of the flouride in your toothpaste and reducing the risk of potential plaque build up.  Actually one site says that two minutes is an arbitrary number, but the point is for people to make a conscious effort to properly clean each surface.

Okay — if I find two minutes of teeth brushing to be long, I can only imagine what a toddler would feel!  Two minutes is an eternity!  I want to start Sam on the right track, really I do — but keeping her there with her mouth open (without her biting off my finger or making a fuss) — it’s a challenge, I won’t lie.  She already enjoys brushing her teeth (Can you blame the child of an OC germ-free mom for wanting to be clean all the time?!), and I don’t want that to go away because of an arbitrary time frame.

Thankfully OCMominManila sends us a dental care package — filled with fun light-up toothbrushes!  Sam saw the box and opened it all with glee.  I have never seen a toddler so excited to get new toothbrushes in my life, but hey!  There’s always a first time.

My Mommyology Firefly productsThank you Ninang (and Firefly!)

The toothbrushes have a 1-minute timer that blinks, to signify that the child should continue to brush their teeth until the light goes out.  I have to tell you — I buy into it.  It’s a great marketing tool to get children into the habit of brushing thoroughly while they are young.  At first Sam would just stare down at the blinking light and suck on the toothbrush, but now after weeks of using it, she knows she has to keep brushing up and down and all around until the light stops blinking.  It makes the whole process fun.  Sometimes she hums to the beat of the blinking light while brushing her teeth, too.

At least the light goes off after one minute and not two and again to me that makes sense.

The other part of the care package were the steripod covers.  Now I did mention in a previous post that in my past life I used to work for Lysol.  I blame them for my heightened germ-free, dirt-free awareness and paranoia.  Call it O.C. if you will, but I’d have to say it is heavily ingrained in my DNA already and so I doubt that it will ever ever change.

Did you know, that toothbrushes accumulate up to 10 million bacteria?  Imagine sticking that into your mouth (or your toddler’s mouth) twice a day!  Aaaack.  It’s because they are always wet or moist, and germs and bacteria like that kind of environment (Think: mold and mildew).

My Mommyology Germs on ToothbrushEwww…!

I will deviate for one brief moment and say two things:  1) DON’T keep toothbrushes near your toilet bowl, and 2) When you flush, do put the lid down.  It prevents bacteria from jumping out of the bowl — YES, they do jump out, you just don’t see it — and latching onto your toothbrush.  The nearer the toothbrush is to the bowl, the greater the latching.

Back to our point:  thank goodness for the steripods!  They are designed to kill the bacteria on your toothbrush for up to three months.  They have some germ-killing vapors that have been tested and proven to work.  Of course, covering your toothbrush also prevents it from getting further contaminated.  I know we don’t see the germs or the bacteria, but having it on — wouldn’t you feel that it is already cleaner for longer?

Plus, steripods are attractive to put onto one’s toothbrush — Sam absolutely loves the colors.  It is a winning deal all around (Anyone want to hire me as a radio ad announcer, I can do this spiel with intonations! ;))

Steripods and Firefly toothbrushes are distributed in Manila by Healthy Innovation Distribution Inc.  Email cchung77@gmail.com to get your products ASAP.  Both sets of products are also readily available on Amazon everywhere else.

September 4, 2011
by mymommyology
4 Comments

The Girls and The Labor Day Sale

My husband and I always wait for the huge labor day sale weekend before doing most of our shopping for the year.  A lot of friends have laughed in surprise that we do our Christmas shopping this early, but hey — really… sometimes the discounts are worth the early shopping trip (To my family and friends who normally receive Christmas gifts from us, yes, your gift is already here).

This year we started the weekend shopping spree and headed over to the  Tanger Outlet Mall in Mebane.  The girls of course had to tag along, and all this time we were wondering how we would manage our shopping trip with two little ones to worry about.  As we approached the parking area, the girls were still napping in the car so we had time to strategize and plan our route.  My husband took this moment to share his game plan with me.  “Don’t think to much.  Just buy.  If it looks good, get it.”  That is quite surprising for the practical giver that he is.  Normally we’d only hit one or two stores because he has so many things to consider before actually shelling out money for it!  I didn’t complain though (In this instance I thought of my sister-in-law and our many shopping trips together.  I always said she was a very efficient shopper who could buy so many things in a short span of time!), and so I just dove into the shopping, saying a silent prayer for his credit card not to reach its limit.

My Mommyology Tanger Outlets Mebane

So many things to do!

Several things helped make the trip relatively painless with the two girls in tow.  The first of which, I’d say, would be the kid-friendly activities Tanger had.  My husband and I “divided and conquered” — I took Jamie with me and did most of the shopping and he kept Sam busy with all the distractions available.  There was even a giraffe in a costume outside the Toys R’ Us, and some ice cream stands which Sam definitely took note of and requested for after her lunch.  We would only meet up occasionally when he needed to pay or fit certain things and I’d have to watch both of the girls.  The only thing missing I felt, was a cool rest area where we could just sit, and I could even breastfeed.  If you saw the crowd at the Outlet Mall, so many of them had their babies with them, that an airconditioned rest area might have actually come in handy.

Then of course, there were the contraptions of the sling and the double stroller.  If you remember my previous post about choosing between the two, I will tell you now — we ended up getting both.  The stroller held all the shopping bags (aside from the girls’ necessities and the girls themselves!) as well as a hanger for the shopping choices in each store.

We also used it to strap the girls down when we needed both hands, or we needed to take turns keeping both girls together.  It also provided a moving chair for Sam to sit in when she got tired of walking.

My Mommyology Stroller and iPhone

She didn't care where we were, for as long as she had Barney and Dora.

Complimenting the stroller of course, was the ever trusty iPhone.  We were able to access Netflix on it and Sam happily watched her shows while both my husband and I fit shoes in peace.

And then there was the sling for Jamie, which I bring with me wherever I go, even when I have the stroller.  I’ve noticed that after a certain amount of time, Jamie complains to be let out of her carseat (that attaches to the stroller) and would prefer to be carried.  Also when I’m out with both girls and this happens, I find that it is much easier when I have two hands free to chase Sam, without leaving Jamie behind.  So I have learned to wear her.  I did end up getting the K’tan and I’d have to say it’s a great sling.  So far, over the past five months and Jamie’s increasing weight, it has hurt my back the least of all the slings that I’ve tried.  And she is happy to sleep in it too.  Jamie happily slept through our shopping trip and would really only wake up to feed and dirty her diaper.  It made shopping a whole lot easier.

My Mommyology K'Tan Sling

Her father will be happy to know that shopping puts her to sleep.

Voila!  We were able to get 80% of our shopping done on this one trip alone.  We survived 7 hours out of the house, the most we’ve really ever done with both girls (The Zoo was only 5 hours).  The biggest casualties I’d say were my back (which is now aching for a massage), and of course my husband’s sanity.

Wait until he sees the credit card bill…

September 1, 2011
by mymommyology
6 Comments

Leave It All on the Bike

My Mommyology Spin ClassSpin it out!

Now this is something I do for myself.

Every chance I get, I try to catch the spin class at our gym (One of my many favorite work-outs alongside Pilates) .  Mind you getting to a class is not as easy as it sounds.

If I try to catch the morning session:

1)  I have to make sure Sam is out the door with all the things she needs for school — milk, water, a change of clothes, insect repellant, and a lunch box packed with snacks and lunch (Thankfully my husband takes her to school.  Otherwise, my schedule moves back 30 minutes more so she is not late);

2) That Jamie is breastfed and that all the excess milk has been drained from my body.  I’ve read that excessive exercise builds up the lactic acid in one’s body and if that goes into her system, then she could get stomach aches (and the milk tastes sour I think).  Also, she has to be fed enough to last 90 minutes until her next feeding, as after a one-hour class, I have to flush out the lactic acid build up before feeding her.  I’ve tried a bottle, however she will not take it from anyone else but me, and so I find it useless to pack one.  I just try to time it right;

3) Then Jamie has to be changed, poop-free and ready to go;

4) Somehow I have food and water in me to survive the 60-minute workout; and

5) That we make it at least 7 minutes before the start of the class so that I can sign in, sign Jamie into the Childwatch center and leave word with the sitters there about what to expect from her (Is she sleepy, has she just been fed, yadah yadah…).  That leaves me with exactly enough time to set-up my bike and get on it just as the instructor starts “rolling out” (as she says).

If I try to catch the afternoon session:

1)  I have to make sure Sam gets her Kumon done first, and that she has her snack in her and has gone to the potty before leaving.  I have to pack her milk and water too because AFTER the gym that’s the first thing she looks for on the 5-minute ride home;

2) Sam has to also be mentally prepped to play in the gym, otherwise it is a challenge getting her out the door;

3) Dinner should be cooked and ready to be re-heated so that by the time we get home, we just rush through our dinner and bedtime routine;

4) That #’s 2 – 4 also happen; and

7) That we make it at least 20 minutes before so that I can sign in, turn the girls over to the Childwatch center, wriggle free of Sam’s delaying tactics and make it into the room to set-up a good bike.  Otherwise, they run out of bikes to ride!

My Mommyology Exercising Mommy

If there's a will there's a way!

As you can tell, it is a challenge to get there on a regular basis.  The tension and adrenaline of trying to make it all contribute to my spin energy, and God knows I need it when I get there.  When I am able to attend it is an achievement all on its own and I spin like I’m never going to get to do it again in a month.  The instructors’ high energy is easy to feed off and I try to match their pace and the weight intensity.  I am not quite that strong yet, so in reality I die trying!  I am beyond spent at the end of each class and I can hardly walk straight.

Thankfully for the past few weeks (except for the week when both girls were down with the sniffles) I’ve managed to go at least once a week.  It has already helped me lose a bit of weight (Yay!  Let’s celebrate with chocolates! Die!!!), but more than that, it is just one hour where I focus on ME.  It’s just me, the bike, my sweat and whatever it is that is going through my head (or not going through my head, like oxygen).  It’s the only time in my day — in my week really — when I am not attending to either or both girls’ various needs, and every mother I know needs that kind of a break.  I leave it all there, and come out drenched, physically exhausted but also re-charged.  Ironically enough, spinning does that for me.

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